Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescacanboun’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Wescacanboun’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and mounding growth habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large flowers that have star-shaped patterns that are yellow orange and red purple in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WESCACANBOUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wescacanboun’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit and numerous attractive and uniquely-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in the summer of 2016 in Südlohn, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 16P383G, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 16P55X, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany in April, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Südlohn, Germany since April, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wescacanboun’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wescacanboun’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright and mounding growth habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large flowers that have star-shaped patterns that are yellow         orange and red purple in color; the varying amounts of yellow         orange and red purple coloration is dependent on environmental         conditions and developmental stage of the flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have deep yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have         yellow orange and red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of         the male parent selection have light yellow and pink         purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘Wescacandy’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,272. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of ‘Wescacandy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous and faster         growing than plants of ‘Wescacandy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Wescacandy’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Wescacandy’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Wescacandy’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Wescacandy’ differ in         flower color as plants of as plants of the new Calibrachoa have         yellow orange and red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of         ‘Wescacandy’ have lighter yellow and red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘Wescain’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,658. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of ‘Wescain’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not         as flattened as than plants of ‘Wescain’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Wescain’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Wescain’ differ in flower         color as plants of as plants of the new Calibrachoa have yellow         orange and red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of         ‘Wescain’ have purple violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Wescacanboun’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Wescacanboun’ showing the flower color variations of ‘Wescacanboun’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Wescacanboun’ (left) and ‘Wescacandy’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers in Südlohn, Germany, under typical commercial cultural practices during the late spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 23° C. to 27° C., night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranging from 3 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched two times and were 13 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Wescacanboun’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 16P383G, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 16P55X, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 to 20 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 to 24 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to             four weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to             five weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; color, close             to 158A.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense to dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright to mounding             growth habit; freely branching habit with lateral branches             potentially developing at every node; moderately vigorous             growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm to 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 33 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 12 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 8 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong; flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent;             matte.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Densely pubescent; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             April until autumn in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about a week on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Towards the base, close to 11A;             mid-section, close to 11 A with venation, close to 176A;             towards the apex, close to 11A with speckles, close to 176A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly semi-circular. Petal apex: Obtuse to slightly             cuspidate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly satiny; matte.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Star-shaped patterns,             close to 13A and N57A; the amount of yellow orange and red             purple coloration varies with environmental conditions and             developmental stage of the flowers. When opening, lower             surface: Star-shaped patterns, close to 10C and 63B; the             amount of yellow and red purple coloration varies with             environmental conditions and developmental stage of the             flowers. Fully opened, upper surface: Star-shaped patterns,             close to 15A to 15C and N66B to N66C; the amount of yellow             orange and red purple coloration varies with environmental             conditions and developmental stage of the flowers; red             purple color becoming closer to 67B with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Star-shaped patterns, close to 15D             and 63C; the amount of yellow orange and red purple             coloration varies with environmental conditions and             developmental stage of the flowers; colors becoming closer             to N74C and 18C with development.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.4 cm. Sepal width: About 4 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate.             Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A to 146C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster:             Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per             flower. Filament length: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Filament color:             Close to 145C. Anther shape: Ovate, four-parted. Anther             length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 8A. Pistils:             Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Style             length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 144C to 144D.             Stigma shape: Ovate; two-parted. Stigma color: Close to             144A. Ovary color: Close to 144C. Fruits and seeds: To date,             fruit and seed development has not been observed on plants             of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to about 28° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescacanboun’ as illustrated and described. 